Kat Dotson and her University of Tennessee softball teammates arrived in Oklahoma City on Tuesday for the Women’s College World Series, got in a practice and took a look around — maybe just to catch their breath.

“It feels like we were just here a month ago,” Dotson, a native Savannahian, said in a telephone interview. “We’re staying at the same hotel, getting ready for the opening ceremonies. It’s going by very fast. It’s exciting to be back.”

Actually, it had been two years since the Lady Vols last qualified for the Women’s College World Series — which opens today with games including Tennessee (52-12) against Southeastern Conference rival Alabama (55-7) at 7 p.m. ET — but the month has been a whirlwind for the team.

They are students, of course, and opened the month with final exams May 3-9. The Lady Vols then traveled to the SEC tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where they beat Auburn, 2-1, on May 10 before being edged the next day by Florida, 2-1 in eight innings.

Hosting an NCAA regional May 18-20 in Knoxville, Tenn., the Lady Vols lost their opener on a Friday night to Miami of Ohio, 1-0. One loss from ending its season, Tennessee mustered a powerful response with two 8-0 wins that Saturday over UAB and Miami of Ohio.

“We just take it a game at a time, not look forward,” said Dotson, a mainstay for three seasons in right field. “Just do my job, do what I’m supposed to. Everyone is doing their job — getting on base, hitting in the clutch.”

They finished the job, beating Virginia Tech twice, 2-1 and 10-2, to advance to the Super Regional, also in Knoxville.

“I said Friday night that we weren’t done,” Tennessee co-head coach Ralph Weekly said May 20 after the team won the regional. “It’s all about players, and I know that is what coaches always say, but it’s the truth. It’s all about players. These kids refused to lose. They wanted to advance, they wanted to play in the Super Regional and they did everything they needed to do to do it.”

Dotson’s toughness is unquestioned, as the junior has played all season with a pre-existing knee condition. She wears a brace on her left knee, which has undergone two surgeries for what she called “wear and tear.”

She’s stayed in the lineup and played well, earning All-SEC first-team accolades as well as on the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Southeast Region first team (her third career selection).

Dotson has started 59 of the 60 games she has played, batted .350, stolen 14 bases in 17 attempts and committed no errors in the field while making 29 putouts and one assist. In 28 SEC games, she batted .348 (eighth in the conference).

The Super Regional last weekend featured an SEC foe, the Bulldogs from her home state, standing between Tennessee and a trip to the WCWS. The Savannah Country Day graduate said that after three seasons wearing orange against Georgia, she’s gotten used to it.

“The first time as a freshman was probably the hardest, the nerves, the pressure. We’ve played them in the World Series and beat them,” Dotson said, referring to the 7-5 victory in 2010. “It kind of gets sweeter.”

She has a lot of close friends and family members that are Georgia alumni.

“In softball, they’re Tennessee fans,” she said.

They might as well get used to it. Tennessee won the opener in the best-of-three series, 3-2, then Georgia won, 1-0, setting up Sunday’s rubber match.

Dotson doubled, drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in a two-run sixth, and made a huge catch while colliding with the outfield wall as the Lady Vols held on, 2-1.

“You really have to mentally be focused the entire game,” Dotson said. “On defense, against such a great offensive team like Georgia, you have to be on every single pitch, know your surroundings, know who’s around you.”

Dotson feels fortunate to play for Tennessee, which is making its fifth appearance in the WCWS.

“I never imagined I would accomplish everything I have so far,” she recalled, noting how at the start of her career it was overwhelming from a mental perspective to play women sometimes a few years older. “I’m honored and blessed to be in this program. I fit right in.”

THE DOTSON FILE

Born: April 24, 1990 in Savannah.

High school: Starred in four sports (softball, basketball, soccer, track) at Savannah Country Day, earning numerous honors including the 2008 Hollis Stacy Award for best three-sport female athlete, and the Lawton M. Calhoun Award as Savannah’s most outstanding athlete.